Masuk
A Note of Gratitude
To every reader who picks up Cage to Cage — thank you. Writing this story has been a journey into shadows and light, and it means so much that you’ve chosen to step into this world with me. Dark romance can be intense, emotional, and sometimes difficult, but it is also a space where characters grow, fight for survival, and discover the parts of themselves they never thought existed. I hope you find yourself drawn in, challenged, and captivated. Most of all, I hope you enjoy the ride. Your support keeps these stories alive. ⚠️ Trigger Warning & Disclaimer This novel, Cage to Cage, is a work of dark mafia romance. It explores dangerous relationships, criminal underworld dynamics, and the fragile line between desire and destruction. Because of the nature of the story, it contains themes that may be distressing, uncomfortable, or triggering for some readers. Please proceed with care and awareness of your own limits. Trigger Warnings The following content appears throughout the story, either directly or through implication: • Physical and emotional abuse – depictions of controlling, manipulative, and harmful behavior. • Drug use and substance manipulation – including non-consensual drugging. • Explicit sexual content – mature scenes described in detail. • Sexual assault, coercion, and blurred consent – including situations where a character’s ability to consent may be impaired. • Toxic relationships – involving obsession, jealousy, power imbalances, and unhealthy dynamics. • Kidnapping and captivity – characters may be held against their will. • Death, murder, and violence – including gun violence, weapon use, and physical altercations. • Organized crime activity – depictions of mafia families, underground clubs, and illegal dealings. • Psychological trauma and PTSD elements – characters may display or relive traumatic experiences. • Self-harm or suicidal thoughts – referenced or portrayed within the narrative. This novel is intended for mature audiences only (18+). Reader discretion is strongly advised. If you find any of the above subjects harmful or difficult, this may not be the right book for you. Disclaimer This is a work of fiction. All names, characters, places, businesses, organizations, and events are either products of the author’s imagination or used fictitiously. Any resemblance to real persons, living or dead, or to actual events is purely coincidental. The actions, choices, and perspectives of the characters do not reflect the beliefs, morals, or values of the author. Scenes involving violence, abuse, or criminal behavior are not intended to encourage, endorse, or glamorize such actions. Instead, they are included as part of a fictional narrative that explores the extremes of human behavior within the high-stakes world of organized crime and forbidden romance. Readers should understand that the content is written solely for entertainment purposes. While the characters may struggle with difficult themes, the story does not serve as advice, guidance, or reflection of real-world relationships. Healthy, respectful, and consensual interactions should always be the standard in real life. By continuing to read, you acknowledge that you are doing so voluntarily and are comfortable engaging with dark, mature, and sensitive subject matter. Please prioritize your own well-being and step away if any of the material becomes overwhelming.VEX POVShe wakes wrong.Not startled. Not confused.Too still.Her breath catches first—a sharp inhale like her lungs have forgotten how to work. Her fingers twitch against my chest, then curl, gripping hard enough that I feel the pressure through bone.“Brynn,” I murmur immediately. “Hey. Easy.”Her eyes flutter open.For half a second, they’re unfocused—clouded with sleep.Then her brow tightens.She inhales again, deeper this time, and her hand flies to her temple.“Oh—” Her voice fractures. “My head.”This isn’t a dull ache. I can see that instantly. Her jaw tightens, teeth pressing together as if she’s bracing for impact. Her body goes rigid against mine, every muscle locking at once.I sit up carefully, keeping my arm around her so she doesn’t lurch away.“It’s okay,” I say quietly, steady, grounding. “Don’t fight it.”Her breathing turns uneven.Then her eyes change.Not panic.Recognition.She stares at my throat first. My collarbone. My mouth.Then my eyes.And the way she l
VEX POVMorning comes quietly.Not with alarms or voices or the sharp intrusion of reality—but with warmth.Weight.Breath.Brynn is sprawled across my chest, one arm tucked beneath my shoulder, her cheek resting over my heart like it chose this spot on instinct. Her hair is a dark spill against my skin, strands brushing my throat every time she shifts. Slow. Unconscious. Safe.I don’t move.I barely breathe.Because this—this—is something fragile. Something earned.The house is still. Dawn light filters through the tall windows, pale and gold, catching in the edges of the room. Somewhere downstairs, the faint hum of life begins—footsteps, a distant murmur—but up here, the world has narrowed to the rise and fall of her breath against me.My hand is already in her hair.I don’t remember deciding to put it there.I stroke slowly, carefully, fingertips gliding along her scalp like muscle memory knows the exact pressure she likes. She makes a small sound in her sleep—soft, content—and pre
VEX POVHer mouth finds mine again before I can overthink it.Not rushed. Not desperate.Intentional.Like she’s reminding me that this—us—has always lived in the quiet spaces between restraint and surrender.I slide one hand to her waist, the other bracing against the wall beside her head. The fitting room feels impossibly small now, air thick with heat and memory and everything I’ve spent three months denying myself.Her fingers curl into my jacket, tugging me closer. The contact sparks—bright, familiar. My body responds instantly, traitorous in its certainty.I break the kiss just long enough to breathe against her mouth. “Brynn…”She tilts her head, lips brushing my jaw. “I know,” she whispers. “Slow.”That word is the only thing keeping me grounded.I trail my knuckles along her arm instead—deliberate, measured—memorizing her again without crossing the line I promised myself I wouldn’t. She shivers, and the reaction hits me harder than any kiss ever could.Nostalgia coils tight i
VEX POVHer mouth is warm.Familiar in a way that punches straight through my ribs and settles deep in my chest, where I keep everything I can’t afford to feel.Brynn kisses me like she’s relearning me—slow, intentional, testing the shape of my mouth like it matters. Like I matter. And for a heartbeat, the past crashes into the present so hard it steals my breath.Her in ivory.Her laughter when the zipper finally slid up.Her fingers gripping my jacket that night like she was daring me to cross a line she’d drawn herself.I want to.God, I want to.My hands know exactly where she fits. My body remembers every sound she makes when she’s kissed like this—soft at first, then reckless when she forgets to hold back. Muscle memory urges me forward, closer, deeper, like the last eight months never happened. Like she didn’t wake up and look at me like I was a stranger with my hand in hers.But she did.And that line—that line—matters.I force myself to slow it down, to keep the kiss reverent
BRYNN POV My fingers tremble where they clutch the mirror. The memory hasn’t faded—it’s settled, heavy and real, like it’s always belonged to me.“I remember the dresses,” I say softly. My voice sounds steadier than I feel. “Not just… fabric. The day. The room.”Vex doesn’t move. He doesn’t rush me. He never does.“Tell me,” he says, careful. Like one wrong step might send the memory scattering.I draw in a breath. “There were rows of white gowns. Too many. I was overwhelmed.” A small, surprised laugh slips out of me. “I kept saying no. To everything. Lace. Tulle. Too soft. Too… me before.”His jaw tightens—not with anger, but with recognition.“You told the woman to leave us alone,” I continue. “You said it like a command. She didn’t argue.” My eyes flick to his. “You never argue, do you?”A corner of his mouth twitches. “Not when it matters.”“You stood behind me,” I say. “Close—but not touching. Because I told you the rules.” My throat tightens. “No touching. Not then. Not yet.”H
VEX POV The update comes in just before breakfast is cleared from the table. One of my men steps into the doorway, expression stiff in that I-have-news-you’re-not-going-to-like way. “Sir,” he says, “we located Jessie Mason.” My attention sharpens instantly. “Where?” He glances at his phone. “Europe. She’s vacationing in Marbella for the week.” Kade huffs out a breath. “Of course she is.” I ignore the irritation tightening my jaw. “Fine. When she returns to the States, I want eyes on her the moment she steps off the plane. Quietly. No mistakes.” My man nods. “Do you want her picked up at the airport?” “Yes,” I say without hesitation. “The moment she lands, put her in a black SUV and bring her straight to me.” He nods once and disappears. Kade crosses his arms. “A week. That’s a long time to wait.” “It is,” I admit. “But she won’t stay hidden forever. And when she gets back… she’ll talk.” His mouth tightens, but he doesn’t argue. He knows I’m right. I glance toward the sta







